Hybrid flowering cherry tree &#39;NCPH1&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘NCPH1’ is a new cultivar of hybrid cherry tree with a strict weeping habit, small stature, and showy pink flowers.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the novel plant variety disclosed herein is Prunus sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive hybrid of Prunus ‘Snofozam’×Prunus ‘First Lady’ disclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination ‘NCPH1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct hybrid cherry cultivar hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘NCPH1’. This new cherry was developed through a breeding program at North Carolina State University, Mills River, N.C. ‘NCPH1’ was selected from a population of seedlings grown from a controlled cross of Prunus ‘Snofozam’ Snow Fountains® NCSU 2007-040 (unpatented)×Prunus ‘First Lady’ NCSU 2005-151 (unpatented). The first asexual propagation of ‘NCPH1’ was carried out in July 2010 by rooting stem cuttings in Mills River, N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over a 3 year period. ‘NCPH1’ roots readily from softwood cuttings treated with a basal dip of 4,000-5,000 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. ‘NCPH1’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the unique combination of characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under standard horticultural practices in Mills River, N.C.

1. Small stature.

2. Strict weeping habit.

3. Pink flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new cherry is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new hybrid cherry.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing the form and flowers of ‘NCPH1’ in spring 2011 on a three-year-old tree.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph showing the form and foliage of ‘NCPH1’ in summer 2010 on a two-year-old tree (third growing season).

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of inflorescences of ‘NCPH1’ in spring 2011 on a three-year-old tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct hybrid cherry variety plant known by the denomination ‘NCPH1’. The detailed description was taken on a five-year-old field-grown plant in Mills River, N.C. in 2013. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, 2001 Edition). Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

Technical Description of the Variety

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical name.—Prunus ‘NCPH1’.         -   Common name.—Hybrid flowering cherry. -   Parentage: Seedling grown from a controlled cross of Prunus     ‘Snofozam’ NCSU 2007-040 (unpatented)×Prunus ‘First Lady’ NCSU     2005-151 (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Strongly pendulous with a small stature.         -   Height.—Variable. Must be staked initially to develop a tree             form. Can reach 2 to 3 m in five years.         -   Width.—2 to 3 m after five years.

Shoot and Stem:

-   -   -   Immature shoot texture (current year).—Glabrous.         -   Immature shoot color (current year).—Yellow-Green (145B) to             Greyed-Red (178A).         -   Mature stem texture (from prior year).—Glabrous, with             prolific corky lenticels.         -   Mature stem color (from prior year).—Brown (N200B) with             lenticels Brown (N200D).         -   Trunk texture.—Covered with prominent corky horizontal             lenticels and small patches of exfoliating outer bark.         -   Trunk color.—Outermost bark layer is Brown (N200B) with the             inner bark layer Greyed-Purple (N186C).         -   Trunk shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Trunk lenticels.—Color: Greyed-Orange (163A).

-   Branching: Long weeping, branching from the main stem.

-   Roots: Fibrous, freely branching.

-   Leaves:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Persistence.—Deciduous.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Elliptical to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute to oblique.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Vein color.—Upper: Green (137B). Lower: Green (137B).         -   Margins.—Biserrate.         -   Emerging leaves.—Color: Upper: Yellow-Green (144A). Lower:             Yellow-Green (146C). Texture: Scaberulose with sparse stiff             pubescence along veins on both sides. Mature leaves during             growing season: Color: Upper: Green (137B). Lower: Green             (137C). Texture: Scaberulose with sparse stiff pubescence             along veins on both sides. Length of lamina: Avg. 65.5 mm             (47.4 to 79.3 mm). Width: Avg. 26.9 mm (17.1 to 35.2 mm).         -   Fall foliage color.—Before frost foliage senesces to             Greyed-Orange (163B and 163A). After frost any green foliage             turns Greyed-Purple (187A) and then to Brown (200A).         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole.—Length: Avg. 8.2 mm (7.8 to 12.1 mm). Diameter:             Avg. 0.96 mm (0.8 to 1.4 mm). Color: Yellow-Green (145B)             darkening to Greyed-Red (178A). Texture: Puberulent.         -   Stipule.—Deeply dissected stipules, Green (137B). Avg 19.5             mm (17.4 to 21.1 mm) long and avg. 7.1 mm (4.8 to 10.2 mm)             wide.

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Description.—Single flowers.         -   Number of true flowers per inflorescence.—1 to 4 (most             typically in pairs).         -   Flowering season.—Spring; March and April in Mills River,             N.C.         -   Fragrance.—Slight fragrance.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elongated ovoid. Length: Avg 11.9 mm, Range (9.4             to 16.1 mm). Diameter: Avg 4.7 mm, Range (3.8 to 6.3 mm).             Color: Red-Purple (63C).         -   Perianth.—Diameter at anthesis: Avg. 27.5 mm (25 to 30 mm).             Height at anthesis: Avg. 17.5 mm, Range (16 to 19 mm).         -   Perianth aspect.—Clustered, mostly outward facing.         -   Petal.—Arrangement: Whorl. Number: 5. Fused: Not fused.             Texture: Smooth. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Undulate. Apex:             Notched. Length: Avg. 12.9 mm, Range (11.6 to 14.8 mm).             Width: Avg. 10.1 mm, Range (9.1 to 11 mm). Color when             opening: Upper: Red-Purple (65A) with veins Red-Purple             (67A). Lower: Red-Purple (65A) with veins Red-Purple (67A).             Color at anthesis: Upper: Varies from flower to flower.             Purple (73B), Purple (73D) with veins of Red-Purple (67A) or             veins are indistinguishable from petal. Lower: Varies from             flower to flower. Purple (73B), Purple (73D) with veins of             Red-Purple (67A) or veins are indistinguishable from petal.             Color fading to: Close to Purple (75A).         -   Calyx.—Shape: Five-lobed conic tube. Length: Avg. 9.6 mm,             range (7.5 to 12.1 mm). Diameter: Avg. 10.4 mm, range (9.2             to 11.2 mm).         -   Sepal.—Appearance: Fused base surrounding a superior ovary             with five acute, entire margin, lanceolate lobes. Number: 5.             Color, immature: Upper: Closest to Green (139B) with             Red-Purple (59B) highlights. Lower: Closest to Green (139B)             with Red-Purple (59B) highlights. Color, mature: Upper:             Greyed-Purple (183B). Lower: Red-Purple (59A). Texture:             Puberulent. Length: Avg. 3.5 mm, range (3.0 to 4.0 mm).             Width: Avg. 3.1 mm, Range (2.3 to 3.4 mm).         -   Peduncle.—Length: Avg. 11.1 mm (8.6 to 14.1 mm). Diameter:             Avg. 0.87 mm (0.76 to 1.11 mm). Color: Green (137D). Surface             texture: Puberulent.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: Avg. 12.4 mm             (10.7 to 14.2 mm). Stigma shape: Flattened, irregularly             globoid. Stigma color: 138C (Green). Style length: Avg. 10.1             mm (9.5 to 10.9 mm). Style color: Green (138D) blushed with             Red-Purple (65A) darkening with age to Red-Purple (67A).             Ovary shape: Oval. Ovary color: Green (138D).         -   Androcoecium.—Stamen number: Avg. 31 (29 to 33). Anther             shape: Ovoid to reniform. Anther attachment: Dorsifixed.             Anther size: Avg. 0.53 mm (0.35 to 0.8 mm). Anther color:             Yellow (13A). Filament color: White (N155A) senescing to             Red-Purple (61A). Amount of pollen: Normal amount for genus.             Pollen color: Yellow (13A).         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit type: Drupe. Fruit texture: Glabrous             and shiny. Fruit length: Avg. 9.5 mm (8.7 to 10.2 mm). Fruit             diameter: Avg. 9.3 mm (8.3 to 10.3 mm). Fruit color:             Immature: Yellow-Green (146C). Mature: Closest to             Greyed-Purple (N186A). Seed number: 1 seed per fruit. Seed             length: Avg. 6.2 mm (5.9 to 6.8 mm). Seed diameter: Avg. 5             mm (4.6 to 5.6 mm). Seed color: Greyed-Orange (165C).

-   Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect     pests have been observed.

-   Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 6b; testing has not been     completed in colder zones.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

Table 1 shows distinguishing characteristics between ‘NCPH1’ and commercial cultivars. ‘NCPH1’ is distinguished from Prunus ‘Snofozam’ in that ‘NCPH1’ has pink flowers, which are larger with a slight fragrance, and smaller leaves. ‘NCPH1’ is distinguished from Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula Plena Rosea’ by having a smaller stature, a strict weeping habit, smaller leaves, simple rather than double flowers, and wider petals.

TABLE 1 Comparison to commercial cultivars. Taxa Prunus subhirtella Prunus ‘Pendula Plena Prunus Trait ‘Snofozam' Rosea’ ‘NCPH1’ Plant 2 to 3 m (depend- 5 to 8 m 2 to 3 m height ent upon train- (dependent ing or grafting upon training height) or grafting height) Plant Strictly weeping Arching branches, Strictly habit with pendulous weeping shoot tips. Flower Avg 25.0 mm Avg 27.0 mm Avg 27.5 mm diameter (22 to 28 mm) (24.0 to 29.0 mm) (25.0 to 30.0 mm) Fragrance None None Slight Flower Simple Double Simple type Petal Closest to White Varies from petal to Varies from flower color (N155B), petal, Purple (76D) to flower, Purple occasionally and Purple (76B) (73B), Purple blushed Purple (73D) with veins o (75C) Red-Purple (67A) or veins are indistinguishable from petal Petal size Length Avg 14.5 mm Avg 11.6 mm Avg 12.9 mm (14.3 to 14.9 mm) (9.5 to 14.4 mm) (11.6 to 14.8 mm) Width Avg 9.1 mm Avg 6.5 mm Avg 10.1 mm (8.4 to 9.7 mm) (4.9 to 8.4 mm) (9.1 to 11 mm) Leaf size Length Avg 84.2 mm Avg 93.9 mm Avg 65.5 mm (54.4 to 102.4 mm) (78.7 to 108.5 mm) (47.4 to 79.3 mm) Width Avg 40.2 mm Avg 36.4 mm Avg 26.9 mm (29.9 to 49.0 mm) (31.7 to 40.5 mm) (17.1 to 35.2 mm) 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid cherry tree named ‘NCPH1’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 